This 1962 409 engine producing 409 horses came with painted valve covers from the factory, as did the 1961 409 engine. In 1963, the horsepower rating for the same 409 went up to 425 horses with the two fours; while in 1963 the 409 did come with chrome valve covers. (Photo complements Chevrolet)
Q: Hi Greg, I very much enjoy your ‘Collector Car Corner’ articles, so thanks for being a great, well-informed writer!
I’m a 70 year old ‘car nut’ myself, and paid close attention to cars since 1955 up through 1963.
The reason I’m writing, other than to thank you for your columns and clearly being an ‘old car nut’ yourself, is to comment about a partial error you made in your article titled “She’s Real Fine My 409 (until the 396)”. Part of what you wrote says, “Originally intended for truck use, the 348.”
However, Chevy’s 348 engine was in fact designed for both cars and trucks, right from the beginning. In Robert Genat’s excellent book “Chevrolet SS” dated 2000, he interviewed Dick Keinath, who was one of the Chevy engine engineers who designed the 348. Keinath makes it clear that the 348 engine was designed and produced as a bigger, more powerful engine than the 283, for use in passenger cars as well as in trucks. In fact, a design requirement was that the 348 had to fit within the same engine compartment as the 283 [which would not have mattered for big trucks, but sure did matter for passenger cars].
Many automotive writers over the past decades have made the same statement, that the 348 was made for truck use and too few writers ever state (and may not know) that the 348 was also intended for passenger car use from the beginning.
The 1958 Chevy was the first year the 348 “W” engine big block was offered. It was available in cars, trucks and station wagons, too. (Advertising complements Chevrolet)
Also, you probably know Chevy’s first 409-inch engine of mid-year 1961 started out for cars only. But many people don’t know that, starting in 1962, Chevy also made a detuned version – much lower compression, with a two-barrel carb for the bigger trucks. Also, I recently read an article in which an automotive writer stated, “All 409 engines came with chromed valve covers.” I’m sure you know he is wrong, neither the 61 nor the 62 409’s had chromed valve covers! Thanks again for being a great writer and keeping us all entertained. Sincerely, Phil Brown, Somersworth, N.H.
A: Phil, you’ve made my week! Thank you very much for your letter and very kind words. I love what I do, and always do my best to make sure my facts are correct. As for that 348, they sure were intended for cars and trucks, and found fame and fortune for Chevrolet as it grew into the big 409 in 1961. The problem with checking and double-checking all the “facts” are that many books and websites clearly state the engine “was originally intended for trucks,” which is incorrect. Thanks for the information as it is now clear that the 348 indeed did have a “car use” DNA.
I remember when I purchased a complete 1958 348 with tri-power from a junkyard for an unbelievable $25 back in 1985. The guy who sold it to me, Joey Borich, went on to become a big winner on the Central Pennsylvania “Posse” sprint car circuit. He and his dad had a wrecking yard between Shamokin and Sunbury, Pa., where we all went when we needed parts. I ended up selling the engine for $250 to a drag racer / collector car enthusiast Lou Drayer, who raced a Chevette small block Chevy at Beaver Springs Dragway in Pennsylvania, and he still competes to this day in that same, very fast car. Today, just the tri-power carbs with intake manifold is worth over $1,000, but Lou told me he, too, sold the engine before it was worth so much money.
In ending, you are also correct about those 409 engines, and the fact the chrome valve covers were not standard by any means. From day one when I opened the hood on a red 1961 Impala mid-year, it did not have chrome covers. Neither did the 1962 409s, but in 1963, I did see 409 chrome valve covers. I also remember one of our school buses in Vineland, N.J., was powered by a 409 with a two-barrel carb.
Thanks for your excellent letter.
(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader questions on auto nostalgia, collector cars and old-time racing at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email at greg@gregzyla.com)
